FastPass

[DIAC1987]

We've had quite a heated argument about these little things. As more and more people around here are noticing, I highly favor the idea of FastPasses. I think that Disney has done well with the idea, its just that for some reason people still can't seem to figure out how they work. The counterarguement however is that FastPasses are ruining the queue lines in all the parks and are giving casual visitors the advantage, and making it a lot more irritating to those not familiar with the parks.

Now, a new poll has been cast, what do you think the future of FastPasses should be?

[DIAC1987]

My personal vote goes to FastPass packages. While I do like the system we have now, it would probably be even easier for guests to scan their ticket and receive a FastPass package.

For example:

Timmy enters Epcot and does not want to wait too long for Mission: Space, Test Track, and Soarin'. So, Timmy goes to the FastPass Distribution Center, scans his ticket, and has the following FastPasses:

Test Track: 12:00 - 1:00
Mission: Space: 3:00 - 4:00
Soarin': 6:30 - 7:30
Honey, I Shrunk The Audience: 5:30 Showing

Now, Timmy does not have to scamper everywhere for the FastPasses, he can now relax a bit more, and not worry about waiting too long.

[DisBeamer]

*registers the first pro-FastPass removal vote*

I don't like 'em, don't think they work right/well, and wish they'd go away. Inequity problem we've been discussing elsewhere aside, the way they create unnatural queue patterns and require you to plan out your day or face the consequences of not riding if you don't drives me to distraction.

The FastPass package idea is an interesting one, and I agree it'd be a lot more user friendly if they had FastPasses for all rides available in one place. That still wouldn't eliminate the problem of people not understanding them though (as I said elsewhere; I believe it's up to Disney to figure out why people don't get it and rectify the problem). You'd also need to know in advance what rides you wanted to go on without getting near them to get the FastPasses all in one place, if you would be able to select the FPs you wanted.

If it would just spit out FPs for every ride that had them available I don't think that'd work right at all. You'd end up using up FP time slots on people who didn't want to go on Soarin' (or whatever). I suspect FPs would also 'sell out' a lot earlier in the day under such a method. Instead of having to make people choose whether they wanted a Soarin' FP or a Test Track FP first, and thus splitting the 'early rush' crowd, people'd be able to snag them all at once and then person # (whatever) in line is outta luck for -all- the (popular) attractions.

I still firmly believe getting rid of them altogether would be the best solution (with the possible exception of shows like Honey I Shrunk the Audience or Indy, etc). Then former FP users have to wait a little more and former standby people wait a little less and the line keeps moving for everyone.

[tmptnr]

I personally think that they are great the way they are. Most people dont know that you can go to the fast pass even after the time interval has expired. This way you can go any time after the start time of the pass. This way you can taylor it to your schedule. I vote dont chage it.

[AKLRULZ]

I didn't vote - the current system is ok, but I'd like to see greater priviledges for onstire resort guests such as having two FP tickets for one time and the length of time between FP increased for offsite resort guests - just another perk for those staying onsite.

[cccmouse]

I agree that there should be certain fast pass benefits that favor on site resort guests. Whether this means being able to get fast pass packages or just being able to get more than 1 at a time.
I would also be open to looking at leaving the system as it is now but also making fast pass packages available to purchase.
I know that we are talking apples and oranges, but on 2 occasions we have stayed on site at Universal Studios and on site guests just show their resort ID and go into any "fast pass" line as many times as they like. With this benefit we could see everything and ride everything that we wanted in about half a day. If we were going to Universal again, I would stay on site just for that benefit alone.

[lebeau]

I voted to get rid of FP.

1. There is no benefit to FP. It does not create capacity, it merely redistributes it from those who don't use the system to those who do.

2. It does not favor the casual tourist. It punishes them for their lack of knowledge.

3. FP is one of the things that robs WDW of its spontinaity (much like priority seating). A trip to WDW is now a massive undertaking which must be planned out to the nth degree.

Basically, the only reason anyone gets to wait in a shorter line is that someone else is being made to wait in a longer line. I've talked to too many casual tourists who were angered and confused because they didn't understand why Disney let people cut in line.

Think about this. If everyone used FP, there would be no benefit to anyone. The lines would even out to their natural state.

And there was nothing wrong with the natural state. Sure, lines were longer than the current FP lines. But they moved faster. And they were much shorter than the current stand-by lines.

I asked people in the other thread to name the benefits of FP other than shorter lines for them at the cost of longer lines to others. So far, no one has named one.

I'd be very interested in hearing why people believe FP is a good system.

[WVParkfan]

Lots of good opinions, and lots of good information from everyone out there. You guys are making me re-think some of my opinions (which is healthy).

But remember, NOT everyone can have a FastPass. They are limited, and because they are limited, it spreads-out the time when they are used. Thus, you don't have everyone at SpaceMountain at Noon. The FP times are spread out througout the day and evening.

I don't think FastPass is the problem. I truly think that Disney is running at or near capacity year-round. There are just more of us that are going more often.

The answer is to expand, expand, expand! A 5th gate! The Beastly Kingdom at the AK! Add more countries to WS at Epcot! Get rid of the Jungle Cruise at the MK and use all of that space for another land (perhaps New Orleans Square). Whatever it takes!

There are more people than ever coming to WDW. Make more room for them!

[lebeau]

Lots of good opinions, and lots of good information from everyone out there. You guys are making me re-think some of my opinions (which is healthy).

But remember, NOT everyone can have a FastPass. They are limited, and because they are limited, it spreads-out the time when they are used. Thus, you don't have everyone at SpaceMountain at Noon. The FP times are spread out througout the day and evening.

I don't think FastPass is the problem. I truly think that Disney is running at or near capacity year-round. There are just more of us that are going more often.

The answer is to expand, expand, expand! A 5th gate! The Beastly Kingdom at the AK! Add more countries to WS at Epcot! Get rid of the Jungle Cruise at the MK and use all of that space for another land (perhaps New Orleans Square). Whatever it takes!

There are more people than ever coming to WDW. Make more room for them!

Ack!

That is so not the answer!

WDW can barely maintain the 4 parks it has open. There is no need for a 5th park!

Disney needs to fix up the existing parks and attractions while adding new ones. It really doesn't take much effort for Disney to keep up with the crowds.

As for FP, I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how it provides any benefit to anyone without taking away from someone else.

[skull]

I like them... and when used well, you can get through much of the park. It's not up to me to inform everyone else how to use the system. When I first went to WDW, I did research. I found out when, where and how. A large portion of the population in north america has internet, there's no reason to not learn about places you are going to. I don't mean just disney, but any trip. If I was going on vacation anywhere in the world, I would sure find out everything I could about things to do/see while I was there, before I left.

So, the casual tourist doesn't know how FP works, is not my problem. I didn't know how it worked, so I found out.

Could FP be improved. Probably. Should it be removed, I personally dont' think it should.

[WVParkfan]

Disney needs to fix up the existing parks and attractions while adding new ones. It really doesn't take much effort for Disney to keep up with the crowds.

Sure, maintaining what they already have is important. But, I truly think there just isn't enough elbow room in most of the parks. It is just plain crowded! And painting a few light poles and re-furbishing old rides just doesn't solve the problem of 10,000 people shoved into an area that can only accomodate 5,000.

It is all about numbers. There are too many people. So, I think my point about making more room is extremely valid. And, if that includes a 5th gate, then so be it. But in the meantime, there is certainly plenty of room at Camp Minnie Mickey at the AK that could be opened up. There would be a lot more room at the MK if they bulldozed Jungle Cruise. There would be more room at Epcot if they found a use for the entire Universe of Energy area.

[lebeau]

Sure, maintaining what they already have is important. But, I truly think there just isn't enough elbow room in most of the parks. It is just plain crowded! And painting a few light poles and re-furbishing old rides just doesn't solve the problem of 10,000 people shoved into an area that can only accomodate 5,000.

It is all about numbers. There are too many people. So, I think my point about making more room is extremely valid. And, if that includes a 5th gate, then so be it. But in the meantime, there is certainly plenty of room at Camp Minnie Mickey at the AK that could be opened up. There would be a lot more room at the MK if they bulldozed Jungle Cruise. There would be more room at Epcot if they found a use for the entire Universe of Energy area.

True, painting light posts won't create capacity. But if light posts are going unpainted with 4 parks, can you imagine the state of disrepair amoung 5?

All Disney needs to do to create capacity is replace a couple of things they closed without replacing. The subs in MK for example. Or the Wonders of Life Pavillion.

Not to mention, several existing rides have the ability to handle additional capacity by adding another car or train. But Disney is often slow to react to this. They'd rather keep costs down.

Another way to increase capacity (albeit indirectly) is to extend the park hours to what they used to be. More hours means less people crammed in all at one time.

Incidently, FP does nothing to aleviate park congestion. It's not creating one bit of capacity.

[WVParkfan]

lebeau,
I agree with everything you said. I think we are essentially saying the same things.

[lebeau]

I like them... and when used well, you can get through much of the park. It's not up to me to inform everyone else how to use the system. When I first went to WDW, I did research. I found out when, where and how. A large portion of the population in north america has internet, there's no reason to not learn about places you are going to. I don't mean just disney, but any trip. If I was going on vacation anywhere in the world, I would sure find out everything I could about things to do/see while I was there, before I left.

So, the casual tourist doesn't know how FP works, is not my problem. I didn't know how it worked, so I found out.

Could FP be improved. Probably. Should it be removed, I personally dont' think it should.

It could become your problem.

Worst case scenerio, Disney chips away at its fan base with short-sighted money-grabbing policies. New visitors never become regulars because the one trip they took to WDW was an expensive and frustrating experience.

Disney is faced with declining profits. They respond by cutting costs as they have in the past. A vicious cycle ensues.

Eventually, the parks are a shell of their former selves.

Several long-time Disney fans will tell you that we have already hit that point.

This isn't a cause and effect situation. FP alone won't cause the parks to deteriorate. It's one of the contributing factors though.

Still no explaination of how FP provides any benefit to anyone without taking away from someone else.

[lebeau]

lebeau,
I agree with everything you said. I think we are essentially saying the same things.

Probably.

Sometimes I argue with myself. My wife will vouch for that